413 

LtOb 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 120. 

B. T. GALLOWAY, Chirf of Bureau. 



THE PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 



GEORGE W. OLIVER, 
Plant Propagator, Bureau of Plant Industry. 



Issued January 10, 1908. 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 

1908. 



Wonegnwh 




Book ^ Lrj O3 



i 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 120. 

B. T. GALLOWAY, Chief oj Bureau. 



THE PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 



GEORGE W. OLIVER, 
Plant Propagator, Bureau of Plant Industry. 



Issued January 10, 1908. 




WASHINGTON: 
government printing office. 

1908. 



^/T; 



n 



1^ 



55 4 



BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 

Pathologist and Physioloyist, and Chief of Bureau, Beverly T. Galloway. 

Patholoc/ist and Phijsiologist, and Assistant Chief of Bureau, Albert F. Woods. 

Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Erwin F. Smith, Patholosist in Charge. 

Investigations of Diseases of Fruits, Merton B. Waite, Pathologist in Charge. 

Laboratory of Forest Pathology , Haven Metcalf, I'athologist in Charge. 

Plant Life History Investigations. Walter T. Swingle, Physiologist in Charge. 

Cotton and Tobacco Breeding Investigations, Archibald D. Shamel, Physiologist in Charge. 

Corn Investigations, Charles P. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. 

Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Breeding Investigations, Thomas H. Kearney. Phys- 
iologist in Charge. 

iS'oi'? Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations, Karl F. Kellerman, Physiologist 
in Charge. 

Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants, Orator F. Cook, Bionomist in 
Charge. 

Drug and Poisonous Plant Investigations and Tea Culture Investigations, Rodney H. True, 
Physiologist in Charge. 

Physical Laboratory, Lyman .1. Briggs, Physicist in Charge. 

Crop Technology Investigations, Nathan A. Cobb, Expert in Charge. 

Taxononiic Investigations, Frederick V. Coville, Botanist in Charge. 

Farm Management Investigations, William .J. Spillman, Agriculturist in Charge. 

<Grain Investigations, Mark A. Carleton, Cerealist in Charge. 

Arlington Experimental Farm, Lee C. Corbett, Horticulturist in Charge. 

Sugar Beet Investigations, Charles O. Townsend, Pathologist in Charge. 

Western Agricultural Extension. Investigations, Carl S. Scofleld, Agriculturist in Charge. 

Dry Land Agriculture Investigations, E. Channing Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge. 

Pomological Collections, Gustavus B. Brackett, Pomologist in Charge. 

Field Investigations in Pomology, William A. Taylor and (i. Harold Powell, Pomologists in 
Charge. 

Experimental Gardens and Grounds, Edward M. Byrnes, Superintendent. 

Vegetable Testing Gardens, William W. Tracy, sr., Superintendent. 

Seed and Plant Introduction, David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 

Forage Crop Investigations, Charles V. Piper, Agrostologist in Charge. ''•_ .' 

Seed Laboratory, Edgar Brown, Botanist in Charge. , ,' • • 

Grain Standardization, .John 1). Shanahan, Expert in Charge. 

Subtropical Laboratory and Garden, Miami, Fla., Ernst A. Bessey, Pathologist in Charge. 

Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Cal., August Mayer, Expert in Chai'ge. 

South Texas Garden, Brownsville, Tex., Edward C. Green, I'omologist in Charge. 

Cotton Culture Farms, Seaman A. Knapp, Lake Charles, La., Special Agent in Charge. 



Editor, J. E. Rockwell. 
Chief Clerk, James E. .Tones. 
120 
O 



D. ot D. 



LETTER OF TRANSMITl^AL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau of Plant Industry, 

Office of the Chief, 
Washington, D. C, October 3, 1907. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript entitled 
^^ The Production of Easter Lily Bulbs in the United States," by 
Mr. George W. Oliver, Plant Propagator of this Bureau, and recom- 
mend that it be published as Bulletin No. 120 of the series of the 
Bureau of Plant Industry. 

The Easter lily is of great importance to florists, its bulbs being 
largely imported from Bermuda and Japan. The imported bulbs, 
however, are not satisfactory, and if the industry of forcing these 
plants so that they will be in flower at Easter is to be continued it 
will be necessary to produce the bulbs in this country. The problem 
of producing these bulbs in the United States has been studied for 
some years by members of the staff of this Bureau, and the accom- 
panying paper summarizes the information on the subject to date. 
Mr. Oliver has shown that healthy bulbs can be readily and profitably 
produced in this country and that disease-resistant strains can easily 
be maintained. 

Respectfully, B. T. Galloway, 

Chief of Bureau. 
Hon. James Wilson, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 

120 



CONTENTS 



Page. 

Disease in imported bulbs 7 

Previous efforts to establisli the growing of Easter lily bulbs in tbe 

United States 7 

Trials of imported bulbs in California S 

Origin of tbe effort to grow seedlings 8 

Tbe most suitable localities for lily bulb growing 9 

Tbe best varieties to grow 13 

Advantages of seedlings over plants produced by vegetative propagation- 14 

Tbe selection of seed bearers 14 

Tbe selection of seedling types for propagation 15 

Tbe preparation of tbe soil 15 

Beds versus rows 15 

Size of seedlings at time of planting 16 

Tbe pollination of tbe flowers 16 

Sowing tbe seed 17 

Pricking off tbe seedlings 18 

Temperature and precipitation in tbe Bermudas IS 

Temperature records of tbe lily-growing localities of tbe United States__ 19 

Description of plates , 22 

Index : 23 

120 

5 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PLATES. 

Page. 
Plate I. Field of hybrid seedling Blaster lilies coming into flower twelve 

months after planting at Santa Ana, Cal 22 

II. The same field shown in Plate I in bloom, after three-fourths 

of the flowers had been cut 22 

III. Raising Easter lilies at Santa Ana, Cal. Fig. 1. — Cloth house 

used in raising seedlings previous to planting in the field. 
Fig. 2. — Interior of cloth house shown in figure 1, containing 
100,000 seedlings ready for the field 22 

IV. Hybrid Easter lilies. Fig. 1. — Two-year-old hybrid Easter lily 

plant with 35 flowers, grown at Ventura, Oal. Fig. 2. — Cap- 
sules and seeds of Liliinn longiflorum harrisii X L. longiflo- 
nim 22 

TEXT FIGURES. 

Fig. 1. Sketches showing various stages of development in the ger- 
mination of Liliiim longiflorum 9 

2. Two-year-old bulbs from seed of Lilium longiflorum glganteum 

X L. I. harrisii, grown at Santa Ana, Cal 11 

3. Bulb of Lilium longiflorum gigantcum X L. I. harrisii, three 

years from seed, weighing 4.34 grams and measuring 14A 
inches in circumference when harvested, grown at Santa 

Ana, Cal 12 

120 
6 



B. 1". I.— 120. 



THE PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS 
IN THE UNITED STATES. 



DISEASE IN IMPORTED BULBS. 

At the present time Bermiida is the main source of supply of 
Easter lily bulbs for the United States. The mild winter climate 
of the island is very favorable to tlie growth of these lilies in the 
open air, but the area of arable land is limited and many of the 
farms are so small that alteration of crops is not practiced with lilies, 
onions, and potatoes, which are the staple crops. 

As a result of these conditions and the fact that careful selection 
is not practiced the vigor of the lily bulbs produced is lessened and 
weak plants are produced from them. As a consequence the plants 
grown from Bermuda bulbs in greenhouses in the United States are 
in a very unsatisfactory condition. In many cases from 50 to 75 
per cent of the plants are diseased to such an extent as to be prac- 
tically unsalable; in fact, they are so seriously affected that many 
florists would wallingly give up their cultivation altogether were 
it not that their patrons demand the lily in its season. The problem 
how and where to produce the bulbs wnthin our own borders tliere- 
fore confronts those wdio would continue in this industry. That this 
problem will be solved soon there is little doubt. It is not likely that 
American growers wall be able to harvest the bulbs and place them on 
the market as early as the Bermuda crop, but judging from present 
appearances their efforts will result in supplying bulbs practically 
free from disease. 

It is said that about 3,000,000 bulbs are annually imported from 
Bermuda and that about 20,000 salable bulbs, ranging in size from 
three to five inches in circumference, can be grown on an acre of 
ground from mother bulbs planted the preceding year. The second 
year's crop of bulbs of that size, whether from seedlings or from 
bulbs, should therefore bring from $1,000 to $2,000 an acre. 

PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THE GROWING OF EASTER 
LILY BULBS IN THE UNITED STATES. 

During the past decade many attempts have been made by seed 
firms and others, including the Division of Botany of the Department 
of Agriculture, to groAv the Easter lily commercially in the Carolinas,, 

120 



8 PEODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 

Florida, and other States. These efforts were useful in pointing out 
places where it was evidently impossible to produce bulbs cultivated 
after the manner now pursued in the Bermudas and Japan. 

Both large and small imported bulbs were planted at various 
places and received the best of care, but in every case the crop when 
harvested did not warrant a continuation of the experiments. All 
of these failures resulted partly from unsuitable soils, but principally 
from unfavorable climatic conditions. It is reasonable to suppose 
that the lily disease sO prevalent in imported bulbs played its part 
in making the experimental work a failure. 

TRIALS OF IMPORTED BULBS IN CALIFORNIA. 

The experimental work now being conducted on the Pacific coast 
promises successful results, but even in that region, favored as it is 
with nearly ideal conditions in the matter of soil and climate, good 
results can not be expected by following the old methods of asexual 
propagation practiced in the Bermudas. This has been shown re- 
peatedly in connection with several large lots of selected imported 
bulbs planted out in widely different localities for seeding purposes. 
These jolants show the usual amount of disease on the foliage, while 
the apparently healthy plants propagated by divisioii and by scales 
also show the disease to such an extent that it seems a difficult matter 
to get rid of thfe trouble by purely vegetative methods of reproduction 
from selected bulbs. 

ORIGIN OF THE EFFORT TO GROW SEEDLINGS. 

A feAV years ago Dr. Albert F. Woods, of the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, in his investigations of the lily disease discovered that 
seedling plants were practically free from the disease. About the 
same time Mr. E. M. Byrnes, then connected with the Office of 
Public Buildings and Grounds, but now with the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, found that the progeny of crossed varieties were mere 
vigorous than either parent. 

At the instigation of Dr. B. T. Galloway the w^riter grew a large 
number of seedlings in the Dei^artment greenhouses, and from these 
several pounds of seed resulted. This was distributed on the Pacific 
coast and in Florida. The seedlings grown in California showed 
conclusively that with liberal treatment first-class bulbs can be groAvn 
by this method much more quickly than by asexual propagation. 
The plants are almost free from disease. A few plants show it here 
and there in first generation seedlings, but in the second and third 
generations it is difficult to find an affected plant. These results 
have been so encouraging to practical men on the coast that several 
are now engaged in getting up a stock of seedlings upon a large scale. 

120 



MOST SUITABLE LOCALITIES FOR BULB GROWING. 9 

THE MOST SUITABLE LOCALITIES FOR LILY BULB GROWING. 

Although enough has not been done in an experimental way to 
ascertain all of the localities where lilies can be grown successfully, 




Fig. 1. — Sketches showing the various stages of development in the germination of 
Lilium lonjjifiorum. 1. Sprouting of the seed. 2. An older stage, where the cotyledon 
shows the bending, while the apex remains closed in the seed absorbing the endosperm. 
3. A still older stage. 4. The cotyledon has now unfolded itself, raising the attached 
seed high above the level of the ground. 5. The first leaf is developed while the 
cotyledon is as above. 6. The seed has dropped and three leaves are now developed ; 
also two secondary roots. The roots show wrinklings above, indicating their con- 
tractile power in drawing the bulblet deeper and deeper into the soil. 

it may be stated that the lily seedlings have shown great vigor where 
the winter temperature does not fall below 24° F. Below that point 
14886— Bull. 120—07 2 



10 PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 

the plants get a check to their growth and the foliage puts on an 
undesirable yellowish tinge, which remains during the winter. 

In Florida, seed sent to persons who undertook experimental work 
has not given good results. The northern and central parts of the 
State occasionall}" get much too cold to insure strong winter growth. 
In the southern part where seed has been sent the reports of those 
Avho Avere experimenting are not very favorable. However, most of 
those who grew the seedlings were absent during the summer, in 
which season the growing plants need very close attention. It is pos- 
sible, therefore, that the failures may be charged to want of atten- 
tion at critical periods. 

At Miami, Fla., the temperature is neither too hot in summer nor 
too cold in winter for growing bulbs. During the period from Sep- 
tember, 1895, to December, 1903, the temperature fell below the freez- 
ing point on only tAvo occasions, the lowest being 29° F. Under such 
circumstances the bulbs will do well provided they receive the neces- 
sary attention. 

At Key West, Fla., the conditions are ideal, closely approaching 
those at Bermuda, the extreme range of temperature in thirty-three 
years being from 41° to 100° F. and the extreme range of precipita- 
tion 21.1 to 58.4 inches. On the large keys near the southeastern 
coast of Florida the seedlings do remarkably well, but the climatic 
and other conditions during the growing season are such as to prac- 
tically prohibit good cultivators from locating there. 

In the northwestern part of the State of Washington the seedlings 
do not stand the winter without protection. However, bulbs planted 
deeply in the fall make fine roots and develop well the following 
year, making excellent bulbs late in the season, but much too late for 
early forcing. 

In many parts of California, especially in the hot interior valleys, 
where good soil and plenty of water are available and the winter tem- 
jjerature is not too low, the seedlings thrive well. At Loomis, a few 
miles northeast of Sacramento, the soil and climate are well adapted 
to their needs. Some areas in that vicinity are nearly frostless, and 
the lilies come into flower as early as anywhere in the State, with 
the possible exception of the foothills near Los Angeles. So far, none 
of the seedlings have been grown at Loomis, but judging from the 
growth made by mature bulbs sent for seeding purposes and compar- 
ing it with that made in other sections the advantage lies with the 
Loomis locality. Very little disease was apparent in the foliage, and 
the flowers were open several days in advance of those from bulbs 
planted at the same period in the valleys of the southern part of the 
State. 

120 



MOST SUITABLE LOCALITIES FOR BULB GROWING. 



11 



At several places south of San Francisco selected for experimental 
work, it was impossible to secure the carrying on of the work necessary 
for the raising of bulbs from seed. The seed would germinate well 
(fig. 1), but when it came to planting out the seedlings in spring 
the farmers and florists could not be brought to believe that it was 
possible in twelve months' time to raise a flowering plant from a seed- 
ling not more than 2 inches high. (See fig. 1, 6.) One firm had 
70,000 seedlings in fine condition two years ago, but not one was put 
out in the field. Fortunately, however, a few capable men were found 
who carried out the instructions of the Department, but even then 
another difficulty was encountered, for when the lilies came in flower 




Fig. 2. — Two-year-old hulljs from seed of Liliiiiii longiflonini cjigantcum 9 > 
harrisii d. grown at Santa Ana, Cal. 

twelve months after planting the seedlings the price offered by retail 
florists for the blooms was a temptation which few could resist. One 
florist cleared $250 in the spring of 1907 for flowers from seedlings on 
a space 25 by 45 feet, and this was only for the flowers he did not want 
for seed. The removal of flowers and stems, of course, results in bulbs 
of an inferior grade. 

Those florists who have grown the seedlings for the bulbs alone are 
more than pleased with the results. This has been done in the vicinity 
of Santa Ana, where the soil and climatic conditions are evidently 
very favorable. Many of the bulbs harvested were of the 7 to 9 inch 
grade. Figure 2 shows two 2-year-old bulbs measuring nearly 11 
inches in circumference, while figure 3 illustrates a bulb which in 

120 



12 



PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 



three years from seed measured 14^ inches in circumference when 
harvested, grown at Santa Ana, Cal., by Mr. Edgar A. Metcalf. The 
bulbs secured from these sources force well, and being almost free 
from disease the loss on this account is small. 

At Ventura, Cal., the conditions are extremely favorable for the 
l^roduction of strong, healthy growth, but the bulb mite put an end to 
the experiment in that section the second year. It should be men- 





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Fig. 3. — Bulb ot Lilium longiflorum r/igantcum $ X L. ?. harrisii -T , three years from seed, 
weighing 434 grams and measuring 14| inches in circumference when harvested, grown 
at Santa Ana, Cal. (Two-thirds natural size.) 

tioned, however, that the soil in which the bidbs were planted had been 
used for calla lilies for .several years. 

At Longbeach, Cal., the groAvth made by the seedlings before plant- 
ing out was very favorable, and probably a little distance from the 
shore in good soils the lilies would thrive well. At Yuma, Ariz., the 
growth made from mature bulbs planted for seeding promises well,, 
and it is probable that the bulbs can be grown there to mature quite as 
early as those from the Bermudas. 

In the extreme southern part of Texas the possibility of producing 
good bulbs would seem very encouraging, but the facilities for testing 

120 



THE BEST VARIETIES TO GROW, IS 

have been anything but satisfactory. The farmers are men who grovv^ 
crops on a hirge scale as a rule and a few hundred lilies are apt to 
receive but scant attention at critical periods, especially when staple 
crops are being attended to. 

At Brownsville, Tex,, one can see in the old Spanish gardens very 
healthy longiflorums in bloom during the first half of April. The 
growth is very strong and absolutely free from even a trace of disease. 
On January 15, 1907, some bulbs of the harrisii variety planted near 
Brownsville had made a strong growth, averaging 7 inches in height. 
These bloomed about the end of March and seeded fairly well. 

Unfortunately, the temperature in the southeastern part of Texas is 
not very favorable, judging from the records supplied by the Weather 
Bureau. Some years the crop will turn out satisfactorily, but there 
always exists a danger of low temperatures, on account of which it 
would be unsafe to attempt cultivation on a large scale. 

THE BEST VARIETIES TO GROW. 

During the past three seasons in California the best success has 
been with seedlings which were obtained by crossing the red-stemmed 
Lilium longiforum gigantemn with Liliiim longiforvm harrisii. 
(See PI. I, and PL IV, fig. 1.) The progeny is remarkably strong 
and in some localities totally free from disease. In the open fields 
they come into flower about a week later than the true hairisii. 
These seedling lilies of the parentage mentioned are composed of 
four distinct types: Long-leafed and short-leafed green-stemmed 
plants, and long-leafed and short-leafed red-stemmed plants. All 
show a remarkable freedom of bloom. Mr. Fred. Rafferty, of Santa 
Ana, Cal., bloomed a large number of them in the spring of 1907. 
Although the seedlings were only about 3 inches high when planted 
out in June, 1906, some of them had 28 flowers to a single stem in 
June, 1907. This lot of seedlings is shown in Plates I and 11. Two 
years ago at Ventura, Mr. S. Cole had some 2-year-old seedlings of 
the same cross, one of which had thirty-five flowers to a stalk. This 
plant is shown in Plate IV, figure 1. 

On the farm of the Santa Ana Easter Lily Company during May, 
1907, hundreds of plants had twenty or more flowers to a stem. 

The only well-known variety which has been tried by the Depart- 
ment in California and Arizona is the harrisii variety from bulbs 
imported from Bermuda in 190G. These bulbs were planted in 
order to produce seed after being artificially pollinated. All of the 
stock grown turned out to be more or less diseased and most of the 
plants, although grown from good-sized bulbs, produced very poor 
flowers and a very low yield of seeds. A small lot of this variety 
grown from seed has turned out fairly well, but by this method of 
increase there are several distinct types, showing that it can not be 

120 



14 PKODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 

depended upon to produce plants true to the original type. It would 
seem, however, that many reliable growers in the East think there 
does not exist the same necessity for the harrisii variety as an early 
forcer as there was a few years ago when cold-storage bulbs were com- 
paratively unknown for early forcing. If this is true, then there is 
but little need for haste in getting the harrisii variety into the Ameri- 
can market, when in reality the bulbs should still be ripening in the 
fields. If the greenhouse men could use only the cold-storage supply 
for the production of flowers during tlie early part of the year, the 
fresh bulbs would then get an opportunity to ripen thoroughly before 
being taken from the ground. It would seem advisable to grow types 
from seed alone and propagate these for one or two seasons asexu- 
ally, but only from bulbs and not by the scale method, using seeds 
instead of scales to increase the supply of bulbs. But when we have 
types which come absolutely true from seed there will be little like- 
lihood of a necessity arising for saving even the smaller bulbs for 
replanting. 

ADVANTAGES OF SEEDLINGS OVER PLANTS PRODUCED BY 
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION. 

The seedling method of propagation not only has its advantages in 
so far as the elimination of disease is concerned, but it is also a much 
quicker method than propagation from scales or even from small 
bulbs. The seedlings one year after planting very often show as 
many as twenty flowers to the stalk. During the past season (1907), 
as already stated, Mr. Fred. Rafferty, of Santa Ana, Cal., had seed- 
lings with twenty-eight flowers. Such plants can be depended on to 
give bulbs of salable size the first year. Comparatively few of the 
9 to 11 inch size are produced. The usual sizes are from 5 to 7 inches, 
but a considerable percentage of the 7 to 9 inch size is found in lots 
which have received good attention. The crop is ready for harvesting 
by the beginning of August. The smaller bulbs when replanted soon 
after being harvested grow much better than imported material. 

THE SELECTION OF SEED BEARERS. 

The seedlings noAv growing in California are j^rincipally crosses 
between the harrisii variety and the dark-stemmed variety of longi- 
florum known as glganteum' others are straight harrisii seedlings. 
The crosses are exceedingly vigorous and the harrisii plants are also 
more vigorous than the parents, but less vigorous than the crosses. 
The plants selected for bearing seed were apparently free from the 
disease, which manifests itself in spotted leaves, dwarfed growth, 
and distorted flowers. 

In selecting ground for planting seed bearers it should be so 
arranged that lilies will not be grown on it for at least three years 
afterwards. 

120 



BEDS VERSUS ROWS. 15 

THE SELECTION OF SEEDLING TYPES FOR PROPAGATION. 

The variations among the second generation seedling plants are 
easily recognizable. A batch of seedlings has usually four distinct 
kinds: Dark-stemmed (1) long-leafed and (2) short-leafed, and 
green-stemmed (3) long-leafed and (4) short-leafed. Three of 
these kinds are marked by tying on pieces of raffia, twine, and strips 
of rags, respectively, while the fourth series of plants remains un- 
marked. One kind is lifted at a time and kept separate for future 
propagation by division only, as it is scarcely worth while to employ 
the tedious method of scale propagation. 

THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 

The preparation of the soil in the field should be attended to much 
in advance of the time the seedlings are ready to be planted out. 
If after a very heavy manuring a crop of potatoes or cabbage be 
taken from the gi'ound, it will be in good order for the reception of 
the seedlings. In well-compacted soils a heavy crop of cowpeas or 
other legume deeply plowed under the previous summer should 
bring about good results. Immediately before planting, the soil 
should be worked by disking, rolling, and harrowing to make it 
smooth and easy to manipulate when putting in the seedlings. 

BEDS VERSUS ROWS. 

The question of growing the seedlings in prepared beds or in rows 
at equal distances apart in the field is important. The bed system 
requires hand work, while cultivation in rows 2 to 3 feet apart can be 
done with a horse machine. The beds have the following advantages; 
When the lilies are planted moderately close together, the foliage 
partly shades the ground and the lilies protect each other so that they 
are not likely to be whipped about by the wind; moreover, by the 
bed system more bulbs can be grown to the acre than in rows wide 
apart. The foliage of bed-grown plants is unquestionably of a 
deeper green than that of plants grown in rows. In irrigating, the 
sunken spaces or alleys separating the beds can be used to convey the 
water. In Bermuda the lilies are all grown in narrow beds and no^ 
irrigation is practicable, much to the detriment of the crop at times. 
Growing lilies in beds with hand cultivation is necessarily more 
expensive than in rows wide apart with horse cultivation, but it is 
likely to be found that the additional expense attending bed culture 
will be more than warranted by the returns, as this crop must not be 
viewed in the same manner as the ordinary field crops M^hich yield 
$20, $40, or $100 to the acre. It is considered in Bermuda that an 
acre of lilies is not much of a success unless it yields from $1,000 to 
$2,000. 

120 



16 PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 

SIZE OF SEEDLINGS AT TIME OF PLANTING. 

The seedlings at planting time are necessarily very small, having 
only a few very short and narrow leaves — in fact, they seem anything 
but promising — and to one who has not had experience in this line of 
work the appearance of the seedling plants would very naturally tend 
to discouragement. The rows in the bed should be about 8 inches 
apart, and the plants at least 5 inches. If the soil is loose and easily 
worked, they can be put in by hand; otherwise a short trow^el is the 
handiest tool. Care should be taken not to have the seedling bed too 
wet at the time of transplanting, as this has a tendency to make the 
plants flabby. Water should be given as soon as they are put in the 
ground. 

THE POLLINATION OF THE FLOWERS. 

To insure the production of seed, the flowers must be artificially 
pollinated, as capsules are rarely formed without this operation. 
(PI. IV, fig. 2.) The pollen is not scattered by wind to any extent 
and insects evidently visit the flowers without accomplishing a satis- 
factory transfer of pollen from the stamen to the stigmas; therefore 
recourse must be had to hand pollination. This consists in taking 
three or four stamens between the thumb and forefinger and rubbing 
the anthers, which are copiously supplied with pollen, against the 
viscid surface of the stigmas. It is best to transfer the pollen from the 
flowers of one plant to those of another, as the flowers then set seed 
better than when the pollen of one flower is transferred to the stigma 
of the same flower or to other flowers on the same plant. 

The best time to select pollen is when the anthers have shrunk con- 
siderably and the pollen adheres to them in great masses. This should 
be applied to the stigmas shortly after the segments of the flowers 
open; the stigmatic surface will then be covered with a viscid sub- 
stance which enables the pollen to adhere very easily. After pollinat- 
ing the flowers on outdoor-grown plants it is advisable to cover them 
with paper bags. This is not necessary with plants grown in the 
greenhouse. 

AVlien the flower is ready for pollen it usually occupies a horizontal 
position, and wdien the pollen has performed its mission the capsule 
gradually assumes an uj^right position (PI. IV, fig. 2), indicating 
that fertilization of the ovules has taken place. Not more than four 
capsules should be allowed to mature on one plant, as the production 
of seed seems to be a considerable drain on its resources. 

The time required to ripen seed outdoors varies with the climatic 
conditions. In a greenhouse the seed ripens in about two months after 

120 



SOWING THE SEED, 17 

fertilization is effected. Those plants which set seed do not go to rest 
at the same period as those without seed capsules, but remain fresh 
and green for several weeks after the others have matured. 

The ripening of the seed is indicated by the capsules turning from 
green to a light brownish color and splitting open at the top. They 
should then be gathered into a bag or box and spread out to dry. 
IVlien dry the seeds should be removed from the capsules and stored 
in a cool, dry place until sown. 

The plants selected for seed bearers should not be subjected to 
checks during the growing period. "Water should be given when 
necessary and the ground cultivated as soon as possible afterwards. 
A mulch of very old stable litter helps to keep the soil cool and 
moist. Observance of these details will give the best seed-producing 
conditions; otherwise the capsules will not fill satisfactorily. 

SOWING THE SEED. 

The seed should be sown as soon as ripe, which is usually about 
the latter part of August or the beginning of September, in a place 
where close attention can be given to shading, ventilating, and 
Avatering. The method which has given most satisfaction in Cali- 
fornia is to sow the seed in well-prej^ared ground covered with a 
cloth house. (PI. Ill, figs. 1 and 2.) This is easily and cheaply 
constructed, as a glance at the accompanying illustrations will show. 

The roof should be high enough from the ground to provide plenty 
of space for a person to move around without stooping. The soil 
should be about 6 inches deep, on top of about 8 inches of stable 
manure. The bed should be raised above the surface of the ground 
3 or 4 inches and edged with narrow boards a few inches above the 
paths ; these will keep the soil in position and give a neat appearance. 

The soil should consist of sandy loam mixed with screenings of 
dried horse manure, not for the purpose of enriching the soil, but 
to make it porous and easily worked. Fresh manure is injurious 
to the young plants. Make the surface of the beds level with a 
garden rake, sow the seed thinly, and press down with a piece of 
board. The seeds should then be covered with one-half inch of 
soil and cocoanut fiber in equal parts; ground redwood bark will 
answer the purpose quite as well, the idea being to keep the surface 
porous. 

Water should be given through a fine sprinkler whenever the soil 
shows indications of becoming dry. The seeds should germinate in 
from three to six weeks. In April, or as soon as the Aveather will 
permit, the cloth may be removed gradually in order to harden off 
the young plants previous to planting out. The seeds may also be 

120 



18 



PRODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 



sown in a frame built and covered so as to exclude sunshine and 
heavy rains Avhile termination takes place; and while the plants 
are small care should be taken not to have the seed beds too wet at 
the planting-out period, as in this condition the seedlings are more 
easily wilted than otherwise when put in the field. 

PRICKING OFF THE SEEDLINGS. 

It is a question Avhether or not it pays to prick off the seedlings 
previous to planting in the open field. Judging from the behavior 
of most other crops so treated, one would suppose that it would be 
the best practice. 

Those of the seedlings which were pricked off the past season 
undoubtedly showed stronger growth than those left in the seed beds 
till planting-out time, but it is claimed the operation does not show 
any beneficial effects on the plants a few weeks after being in the 
field. At any rate, there is much to be gained in thinning out the 
seedlings and pricking them off when they come up too thickly in the 
seed bed. 

TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE BERMUDAS. 

For purposes of comparison with localities in the Ignited States, 
the following table, showing the ranges of temperature and the pre- 
cipitation at Prospect, Bermuda, for each month of the years 1900 
to 1904, inclusive, will be of interest : 



Table I. — Tcnipcratuir and jHTcipitatioii at J'rofiprct. Bermuda, from 1900 

to 190',." 

TEMPERATURE. 



Year. 



lonn/Mlaximum 
^^""1 Minimum, 
mm (Miiximum 
^■""^l Minimum. 
iQ^.^fMaximum 
^^""tMinimum. 
.QnQjMi^ximum 
^^"''t Minimum. 
,q„,/Maximum 
^^ \Minimum. 



73.4 
53.0 
71.8 
49.2 
71.6 
49.2 
74.8 
54.2 
73.4 
46.2 



73.4 
50.6 
70.4 
46.8 
72.0 
48.0 
74.2 
51.0 
73.2 
45.6 





















^ 

a 

s 




5" 


CJ 

a 


>, 


be 


a 


0) 

O 


a 

> 
O 


s 


< 


^ 


-^ 


i-i 


< 


CO 


o 


S:; 


71.8 


74.2 


78.4 


83.0 


91.2 


89.8 


88.6 


82.6 


78.6 


48.6 


49.6 


56.8 


61.8 


67.2 


68.8 


59.2 


64.8 


59.4 


73.0 


74.0 


83.2 


88.0 


92.4 


93.6 


91.0 


87.8 


74.8 


51.4 


40.4 


58.6 


64.0 


72.0 


73.0 


71.4 


62.2 


53.8 


74.2 


79.8 


81.2 


83.6 


89.4 


90.0 


87.4 


83.8 


78.0 


49.0 


55.0 


59.4 


63.0 


67.8 


67.8 


69.2 


62.2 


62.2 


74.0 


74.4 


76.2 


84.0 


90.0 


90.8 


90.0 


81.8 


77.0 


57.0 


.57. 2 


59.6 


61.4 


67.4 


70.2 


70.0 


61.6 


57.4 


7.5.4 


77.4 


80.6 


84.4 


86,4 


88.0 


88.0 


83.4 


77.0 


50.4 


53.6 


60.0 


65.6 


68.4 


69.0 


67.0 


64.6 


53.6 



75.8 
53.6 
74.0 
55.0 
7.5.0 
54.8 
76.0 
49.8 
74.0 
54.0 



PRECIPITATION. 



1900 

1901 . 


.5.48 
9.71 
3.18 
4.37 
4.37 


5.17 
5.56 
8.09 
1.44 
1.44 


8.08 
8.55 
4.33 
4.06 
4.06 


1.59 
7.20 
13.31 
4.20 
4.20 


7.47 
1.83 
2.58 
3.98 
3.98 


5.25 
1..54 
8.43 
3.83 
3.83 


2.38 
2.42 
2.13 
1.73 
1.73 


6. 80 ■ 
2.27 
21.33 
3.85 
3.85 


8.32 
1.92 
2.04 

8. 38 
8.38 


4.03 
10. 52 
13.18 
9.83 
9.83 


3.97 
7.82 
2.08 
5.03 
6.03 


8.21 
3.33 


1902 


6.96 


1903 


10.58 


1904 


10. 5S 







Data supplied by the United States Weather Bureau. 



120 



TEMPERATURE RECORDS OF THE LILY-GROWING LOCALITIES. 19 

The average normal temperature and precipitation at Hamilton, 
Bermuda, for each month of the years from 1900 to 1904, inclusive, 
follows : 



Table II. — Temperature and precipitation at Hamilton, Bermuda, from 1900 to 

J90.'i, inciusive.°' 

TEMPERATURE. 



Years. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


1900-1904 


62.0 


61.5 


62.2 


63.9 


69.4 


75.0 


78.4 


79.6 


77.4 


73.0 


68.7 


64.7 






rRECIPITATION. 


1900-1904 


4.94 


4.44 


5.13 


4.18 


4.66 


5.95 


4.44 


6.08 


6.51 


6.71 


4.38 


4.49 



" Data supplied by the United States Weather Bureau. 

TEMPERATURE RECORDS OF THE LILY-GROWING LOCALITIES OF 
THE UNITED STATES.^ 

For^t Brown, Tex. — In the period from November, 1846, to Decem- 
ber, 1903, at Fort Brown the annual mean was 73° F., the absolute 
maximum 102° F., and the absolute minimum 12° F. During the 
period from January, 1894, to December, 1903, with the records for 
several months missing, the temperature fell below 32° F. on sixty-six 
occasions. It would seem from these records that this vicinity would 
be unfavorable for growing the bulbs on a commercial basis. 

Los Angeles, Cal. — The annual mean at Los Angeles from July, 
1877, to December, 1903, is given as 62° F., the absolute maxi- 
mum 109° F., and the absolute minimum 28° F. In the period from 
Januar}', 1894, to December, 1903, the temperature fell below 32° F. 
on five occasions, viz, January 6, 1894; January 21, 1897; January 26 
and 27, 1898 ; and December 13, 1901. This record was taken on roofs 
of the buildings of the Weather Bureau station 60 to 70 feet above the 
ground. Xear the surface of the ground the maximum temperature is 
higher and the minimum considerably lower. However, in the foot- 
hills near Los Angeles frost is unknown, giving ideal conditions for 
lily farming. 

San Diego, Cal. — At San Diego the annual mean temperature in 
the period from 1850 to 1903 was 61° F., the absolute maximum 101° 
F., the absolute minimum 32° F. During the period from January 1, 
1894, to December 31, 1903, the temperature fell to 32° F. on one 
occasion — January 7, 1894. 

Santa BarTjara, Gal. — At Santa Barbara the annual mean tempera- 
ture in the period from January, 1881, to December, 1903, was 60° F., 

a Data obtained from Bulletin Q of the United States Weather Bureau. 
120 



20 PKODUCTION OF EASTER LILY BULBS. 

the absolute maximum 100° F., and the absolute minimum 28° F. 
During the period from January, 1897, to December, 1903, the tem- 
jjerature fell below 32° F. on only three occasions — December 20, 1897, 
February 6, 1899, and February 3, 1903. The foothill region close to 
Santa Barbara is practically frostless. Here we find specimens of 
tropical plants such as Anthuriums and Platyceriums growing out of 
doors all the year round; also large specimens of tropical trees such 
as the mango, Casimiroa, and avocado. In these places the growth of 
Easter lilies is continuous through the winter, and the plants flower 
from one to two weeks earlier than on the level ground nearer the sea. 

120 



PLATES. 



120 



21 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 

Plate I. Field of hybrid Easter lily seedlings (Lilium longiflorum giganteum 
5> X L. I. harrisii $ ) twelve months after planting, coming into flower. 
These lilies were grown by Mr. Fred. Rafferty, Santa Ana, Cal., from seed 
supplied by the Bureau of Plant Industry. Seed sown October, 1905. 
Planted in the field April 30, 190G. Photographed May 30, 1907. 

Plate II. The same field shown in Plate I in bloom, after three-fourths of the 
flowers had been cut. Photographed June 20, 1907. 

Plate III. Raising Easter lilies at Santa Ana, Cal. Fig. 1. — Cloth house used at 
Santa Ana, Cal., by Mr. Fred. Rafferty in raising seedling lilies previous to 
planting in the field. Imported LUhim longiflorum liarrisii plants are seen 
on the right. Fig. 2. — Interior of cloth house shown in figure 1, containing 
100.000 seedling lilies ready for the field. 

Plate IV. Hybrid Easter lilies. Fig. 1. — Two-year-old hybrid Easter lily plant 
{Liliuni longiflorum giganteum 9 "XL.!, harrisii $) with 35 flowers, grown 
at Ventura, Cal., by Mr. S. Cole. Fig. 2. —Capsules and seeds of Lilium 
longifloniin Iiarrisii X 9 L. longiflorum $ . 
120 
22 



Bui. 120, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate I. 




Bui. 1 20, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate II 



HSF^ ip^^'paHH 


m 




f 


^Hi^^^Hki^ ^3^^flf i^^^^l 


\ 




f- 






^H^V ^^|^i|«^m^^H 


f** 


B^^I^^Ppt^^^B 


r 


E||3^ ^.^P 


1^ 








k^ 


Bpn^iffii r m 


9>- 




P^-,^ 










^^^^^^^UsJ/^^K^^Mftf^UF 









Bui. 120, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate III. 





Fig. 1.— Cloth House Used in Raising Seedlings Previous to Planting in the Field. 




Fig. 2.-INTERIOR of Cloth House Shown in Figure 1, Containing 100,000 Seed- 
lings Ready for the Field. 



RAISING EASTER LILIES AT SANTA ANA, CAL. 



Bui, 1 20, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 



Plate IV. 



33 I 

o < 





A^ ^M.. ":^ ^Tf^-^ 






NDHX. 



Page. 

Beds versus rows, Easter lily culture 14 

Bermuda, aimual imports of Easter lily bulbs 7 

couditions unfavorable to production of healthy Easter lily 

bulbs 7 

diseased Easter lily bulbs imported 7 

Easter lily culture in narrow beds 14 

temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 

Brownsville, Tex., growth and early bloom of Easter lily 10-11 

Bulbs, annual imports from Bermuda 7 

from seedlings, successful growing 9-13 

imported, disease prevalent 7 

trials in growing in California S 

most suitable location for growing 9-12 

number grown to the acre 7 

previous efforts to grow in United States, causes of failure 7-S 

second year's crop, value 7 

seedlings one year old, sizes 13 

Byrnes, E. M., experiments with crossed plants S 

California, attempts to grow imported Easter lily bulbs i 8 

experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9-10 

temperature records, lsr)0-1903 i IS 

Calla lily soil, infestation with bulb mites in California 10 

Cloth house for Easter lily seed beds, description 16 

Cold-storage bulbs, use for early blooms 12 

Disease in imported Easter lily bulbs 7 

Fertilizer, use of stable manure on Easter lily seed beds 16 

Florida, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9 

Flowers of Easter lily, pollination 15-16 

Fort Brown, Tex., temperature records, 1846-1903 18 

Hamilton, Bermuda, temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 

Key West, Fla., temperature and precipitation 9 

Lilium longiflorum, description of development from seed 11 

gigauteum crossed with Lilium 1. harrisii, results 12 

harrisii crossed with Lilium longiflorum gigauteum. 

results 12 

seedlings, characteristics : 13 

variety, change of type in seedlings 12 

Lily, Easter, best varieties to grow_^ : 12 

flowers, i)o]lination 15-16 

propagation, methods 8 

seed bearers, selection 13 

ripeness, indications 15 

23 

lliO 



24 INDEX. 

Litly, Easter, seed, ripening, time required 15 

sowing, and care of seed bed 16 

Localities most suitable for Easter lily bulb growing 9-12 

Longbeach, Cal., favorable conditions for Easter lily growth 10 

Loomis, Cal., favorable locality for Easter lily bulb growing 9 

Los Angeles, Cal., temperature, i-ecords, 1877-1903 18 

Manure, stable, use on Easter lily seed beds 16 

Miami, Fla., temperature 9 

Mite, bulb, injuries in California 10 

Plates, description 22 

Pollination of Easter lily flowers, directions 15 

Precipitation, Bermuda, 1900-1904 17 

Propagation, Easter lily, methods 8 

selection of seedling types 13 

Prospect, Bermuda, temperature and precipitation, 1900-1904 17 

Rainfall. Bermuda, 1900-1904 i--_ 17 

Rows versus beds for Easter lily culture 14 

San Diego, Cal., temperature records, 1850-1903 18 

Santa Ana, Cal., favorable condition for Easter lily growing 10 

Easter Lily Company, successful growing from seed 12 

Barbara, Cal., temperature records, 1881-1903 18 

Seed bearers, selection 13 

Easter lily, ripening, time required 15 

ripeness, indications 15 

sowing, and care of seed bed 16 

Seedling types for propagation, selection 13 

Seedlings, Easter lily, advantages over plants produced by vegetative prop- 
agation 13 

freedom from disease 8 

oneyear old, large number of blooms 12 

size of bulbs 13 

origin of efforts to grow 8 

pricking off 16-17 

size at time of planting 14-15 

Soil, preparation for Easter lily seedlings 14 

Temperature, lowest withstood by Easter lily seedlings 9 

records of Bermuda, 1900-1904 17 

lily-growing localities in United States 18 

Texas, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 10 

Fort Brown, temperature records 1846-1903 18 

southeastern, temperature unfavorable for growing Easter lily 

bulbs 12 

United States, previous efforts to establish gi'owing of Easter lily bulbs — 7-8 

temperature records of lily-growing localities 18 

Varieties of Easter lilies most suitable for growing in the United States__ 12-13 

Ventura, Cal., ravages of bulb mite 10 

Vegetative propagation, advantages of seedlings over plants so produced.. 13 

Washington, experiments in growing Easter lily bulbs from seedlings 9 

Woods, Dr. Albert F., investigations of lily disease 8 

Yuma, Ariz., favorable conditions for Easter lily growing 10 

120 

o 



iEJe'08 



